Backyard Habitat and Native Flora Fair

April 29, 2017: 10am - 3pmFairhaven Village Green1207 10th St, Bellingham, Washington 98225Learn how to make your yard, school yard or business landscape wildlife friendly! Featuring:-Native Plant Sale with experts from the Washington Native Plant Society-1pm: Native Plant walk-Nesting boxes for cavity nesting birds-Children's activitiesAll are welcome! This event is free to attend with native plants available for purchase. Questions? Call the Parks Volunteer Coordinator at 778-7105Event sponsored by Koma Kulshan chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society, North Cascades Audubon Society and Bellingham Parks & Recreation.

Board Meeting Minutes: February 2017

North Cascades Audubon SocietyBoard of Directors Meeting AgendaRE Sources LibraryFebruary 13, 2017, 7:00 PMBoard Members Present: Ken Salzman, Rae Edwards, Steven Harper, Sue Parrott, Jamie Huson, Nicole Huson, Twink Coffman, Chris Brewer1. Additions to Agenda – Additions added below2. Approval of January Minutes - Approved3. Treasurer’s Report – Sue went over the Treasurer’s Report and the budget.  Everyone was ok with both.4.  Communications & Input      CBC update newsletter article – Hopefully, there will be an article in the April newsletter. Pam will follow up.      WOW update – Ken and Chris gave updates. Paul will be getting people to sign up for the viewing stations.  Pam will be in charge of the table and logistics surrounding that at the WOW.      Mature trees letter to city update – Rae suggested that a positive approach with suggestions be included as well as criticism regarding trees coming down in Fairhaven in any letter that will be written. Rae will continue to work on the letter.  It will be reviewed by the board and then approved at the next board meeting.      Museum update: no information yet on when the bird exhibits will be open.  Pam should follow up.      WOS meeting update – Sept. 21-25 at Semiahmoo. Ken is looking for field trip leaders.      Website update – No update as of yet.  Jamie is working on it.      Climate group update- They will meet at the end of Feb. and are still moving ahead on tabling at the Farmer’s Market.      Bird class: February 22 and 23 at ReSources – This has all been arranged and Canaan Cowles will teach the class.      Feb. 15 presentation by Melanie Driscoll – Steve gave an update. People are encouraged to come and help out at the resource table.      Update on WWU scholarships – Nicole created a new poster and it has been sent to Don and she already has received an inquiry from a student.      Legislative updates from Jennifer Syrowitz – Sue wondered if everyone is receiving these updates from Audubon Washington. Everyone is getting the updates except Chris.  Sue will send the info to Chris for sign up.5. Old Business      Swan update – The swan is at the taxidermist and the taxidermist needs a payment to start. Sue will send payment.      Waiver form – Chris presented three different field trip and activity liability waiver forms.  The board gave suggestions for changes to the waiver forms and the education committee will revise forms and bring them to the next board meeting. We also decided to use the individual liability forms for more “risky” events or with children.  Chris gave two examples (City of Bellingham and Wild Whatcom) and we need to adopt a version of one of these at the next board meeting. Chris also presented information on background checks.  Sue will move ahead with establishing an account for getting background checks with the Washington State Patrol.        Membership software- Jamie is still checking on a platform to use.         Suggestion box for membership meetings – Ken is waiting for Pam to return to get hold of a nesting box.       Scholarships for WCC classes – Ken will follow up.       Holiday party credit – We can use the credit for next winter’s holiday party.6. New Business       Consider scholarships for high school seniors – This item will be considered at the next meeting when we find out who placed it on the agenda.      Bird friendly broadcast towers – Sue was interested in having an article in the newsletter and having a person take on the challenge of chasing down towers that should have lights changed to flashing lights. We will continue to discuss this and Sue will possibly work on an article. 7. Committee Reports as needed      Education Committee update -      Museum programs and other events for May- August with March 1 deadline for Museum Calendar – Nobody at the meeting had any suggestions for events. Pam will need to follow up.      April Birds and Brew event and other activities – The education committee described their concept for their Birds and Brew outing. They also showed us the concept poster for the event and their ideas for this coming year such as a Scudder Pond Walk.  They passed out their write-up of concepts for this coming year.  See handout.  We agreed to wait until summer 2018 for children’s summer camps.Upcoming Programs:February 15: Melanie Driscoll, Deepwater Horizon: Effects of the Oil Spill on Local People and WildlifeFeb 28: Steve and Martha Ellis: Loons of the Salish SeaMarch 28: Matt Christensen and Sarah Brookes, Friends of Semiahmoo Bay: Stewardship North of 49th ParallelApril 25: Jonathan White: Tides: Science and Spirit of the Ocean  May 23: Kathleen Bander: Bats          Adjourn - Next Meeting, March 6, 2017.  7-9 PM WECU Ed Ctr            311 Holly St, Bellingham, WA

Gardening Green: FREE Sustainable Landscaping Class

April 24 – May 10Mondays and Wednesdays 9:00 AM – 2:00 PMMeets at WSU Extension: 1000 North Forest St., BellinghamClass size is limited. Pre-registration is required: sl-taylor@comcast.net 360-671-3891Landscapes are considered sustainable if they reduce water demand, filter and reduce storm water runoff, provide wildlife habitat, and increase outdoor recreation. Sustainable Sites Initiative Gardening Green provides practical information and simple yet powerful actions toprotect the environment. This is a relaxed, fun class that incorporates presentations,demonstrations, hands-on experiences, and tours of sustainable landscapes.Participants can have an on-site consultation to help plan their sustainable changes.Topics include: Water Wise Landscaping, Healthy Soil, Sustainable Design, Pick GreatPlants, Maintenance Strategies, Rainwater Harvesting and Wildlife Habitat.Participants are asked to pay for this FREE class with outreach to friends and neighborsabout sustainable landscaping for environmental and human health.

WLT: Faith and Nature Dialogue

Faith & Nature Dialogue, Episode 5March 20, 20176:30pm - 8pmFairhaven Library1117 12th Street, BellinghamHow can faith inform a love for nature? This is the central question driving the year-long series, Faith & Nature, hosted by Whatcom Land Trust.Echoes Lutheran Minister Charis Weathers will facilitate this discussion with Elkah Katz, a seminary student working toward ordination as a Jewish chaplain, and Yisrael Bisman, a Spiritual Yogi who hosts a creative Podcast called Dharma Review.Space is limited. Please pre-register at www.whatcomlandtrust.org/eventsQuestions? info@whatcomlandtrust.org360.650.9470

Water in Whatcom County, and Why We Should be Concerned

Water in Whatcom County, and Why We Should be ConcernedPresentation by Eric HirstWednesday, March 15, 6:30 - 8:30 PMCarl Cozier Elementary School If you’ve ever thought that water, and having enough of it, was a “dry” subject, then you owe it to yourself to come out to this presentation by local water researcher Eric Hirst. If you think that it’s water, water everywhere in the Pacific Northwest, the fact is that even here in Whatcom County there isn’t always enough water for all the people, crops and fish that need it. And that problem will only get worse if we don’t understand how to manage our finite water supplies. Environmental researcher Eric Hirst is just the person to explain it all. He has a Ph.D. in engineering from Stanford University, spent 30 years analyzing energy policy at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, and retired to Bellingham 14 years ago where he continues his environmental analysis and activism. You may recognize his name from last year’s Whatcom County vs. Hirst, Futurewise, et al. decision by the Washington State Supreme Court. That case found that Whatcom County’s failure to comply with legal obligations to protect water resources required that it now coordinate its land-use planning with water availability. This presentation is sponsored by the Mt. Baker Group/Washington Chapter of the Sierra Club, and is free to all interested in understanding how water affects every aspect of our lives. Beverages and snacks will be served. Questions and answers will follow Mr. Hirst’s presentation. If you want to know more about water or other key environmental issues in this region check out the Mt. Baker Group’s website at http://www.sierraclub.org/washington/mount-baker-whatcom-skagitsanjuan. 

March Newsletter and Events Are Online

March 2017 Newsletter is Online

     Go to www.northcascadesaudubon.org to download the PDF. (Click "Newsletter" in the menu.) 

 

March Events and Field Trips Are Online

    Visit our website to see what's coming up this month. (Upcoming events are listed on the home page as well as on the Calendar.)

 

Hawk Watching Around the World:

Raptor Highlights of Six Continents

Saturday, March 18, 7 PM Bellingham Central Library, Lecture Room

Don't miss this exciting program mid-March! Join raptor expert and author Sergio Seipke as he showcases selected raptor species observed in recent years while traveling in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Nepal, Thailand, South Africa, Spain and the USA. His presentation will include photographs and descriptions of some of the most spectacular hawk watching sites around the world. Sergio has been studying raptors since 1993 and has authored and co-authored 16 articles dealing with raptor biology, migration, taxonomy, and field identification of neotropical raptors. He is currently writing Raptors of South America, a Princeton University Press field guide dealing exclusively with the identification of the 96 species of raptors occurring in South America. 

This special presentation is hosted by the Bellingham Public Library, Whatcom Land Trust, Falcon Research Group and North Cascades Audubon Society.

 

General Membership Meeting with Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society

     This month's exciting membership meeting! Mark your calendar. See below for date, time, and location.

Stewardship North of the 49th Parallel. The Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society (FOSBS) is a 100% volunteer-based stewardship group working to restore and raise knowledge of the watersheds and habitats associated with Boundary Bay. Boundary Bay is just across the US/Canada border and is located between White Rock and Point Roberts.  This presentation will show you why this area has international recognition for the significance of this habitat and its wildlife- expect some stunning pictures! FOSBS has three core components that make up the society: Environmental Education Programs, Citizen Science Projects and Habitat Enhancement Projects.  Matt Christensen, Vice President/Restoration Projects Coordinator and Sarah Brookes, Secretary/Education Programs Coordinator are proud to share a little bit about this special area in which they work, and about the accomplishments of FOSBS’s dedicated supporters and volunteers.

Always on the 4th Tuesday of the month:
March 28th, 7pm at the Whatcom Museum,** free & open to the public! 

**in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall building

Free Series "Marine Birds of the Salish Sea”

North Cascades Audubon Society offers free educational series “Marine Birds of the Salish Sea”Participants will learn about physical features, behaviors, and history of more than 30 bird species in the Salish SeaBELLINGHAM, WA — Marine bird experts will host a free educational series “Marine Birds of the Salish Sea” from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, February 22-23, at RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, 2309 Meridian St., Bellingham. The event is sponsored by North Cascades Audubon Society in collaboration with RE Sources for Sustainable Communities and the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve Citizen Stewardship Committee.The two-part series — taught by Caanan Cowles, a biologist with more than a decade of experience researching seabirds in the Salish Sea, and Pam Borso, president of North Cascades Audubon Society — will teach participants about physical characteristics of more than 30 species, their behavior, and interesting facts about their histories. Participants are encouraged to attend both classes. Previous class participants are welcome to attend.After the classes, participants will have the opportunity to go on a birding tour led by North Cascades Audubon Society. The field trip time and date will be decided during the class.North Cascades Audubon Society has been conducting surveys of marine birds for several years at Cherry Point. The series is intended to increase awareness of marine birds and the reasons the North Cascades Audubon Society monitors them.North Cascades Audubon Society also hosts monthly guided birding tours from 9 a.m. to noon the first Saturday of the month at Semiahmoo Park, 9261 Semiahmoo Pkwy, Blaine.To register for the event, email Lyle Anderson at lyleand2@comcast.net or call 360-739-9249. For more information, visit northcascadesaudubon.org/calendar/.###Media Contacts:Lyle Anderson, North Cascades Audubon Society, lyleand2@comcast.net, 360-739-9249Virginia Cleaveland, RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, virginiac@re-sources.org, 360-733-8307Since 1970, the North Cascades Audubon Society has represented the interests and importance of wildlife, habitat and the environment in Whatcom County. Through scientific research, environmental education, stewardship and advocacy, NCAS provides a variety of services and opportunities for members and the public to engage with the natural world. northcascadesaudubon.orgRE Sources for Sustainable Communities is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the health of Northwest Washington’s people and ecosystems through the application of science, education, advocacy, and action. re-sources.orgThe Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve Citizen Stewardship Committee increases public awareness and enjoyment of the Reserve and assists the Department of Natural Resource’s Aquatic Reserve Program to successfully implement the Reserve’s management plan. aquaticreserves.org

February Newsletter and Events Are Online

February 2017 Newsletter is Online

     Go to www.northcascadesaudubon.org to download the PDF. (Click "Newsletter" in the menu.) 

 

February Events and Field Trips Are Online

    Visit our website to see what's coming up this month. (Upcoming events are listed on the home page as well as on the Calendar.)

 

Deepwater Horizon Disaster:

How Oil Spills Affect Local People and Wildlife

Don’t miss this special presentation sponsored by North Cascades Audubon Society and RE Sources for a Sustainable Community! Wednesday, February 15, 7 – 9 PM, Whatcom Museum: Old City Hall. Melanie Driscoll, Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon’s Gulf Coast and Mississippi Flyway, will discuss the need for prevention of oil spills, preparedness for an organization to find a role in the event of a major spill, and her thoughts about the particular risks facing Native Americans and others living by the Salish Sea.  Her perspective comes from her involvement in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster and subsequent years of involvement in the response and now restoration efforts.  She will discuss that spill’s effects on wildlife, the environment, and local communities.  During the disaster, she initiated wildlife survey efforts and provided biological interpretation regarding the relief effort to news media, the public, and the environmental community. She also led Audubon’s conservation planning in response to the disaster and initiated Audubon’s volunteer response effort. 

General Membership Meeting with Steve and Martha Ellis

     This month's exciting membership meeting! Mark your calendar. See below for date, time, and location.

Loons of the Salish Sea. Up to a thousand red-throated loons gather each year at Deception Pass. Where do they and the other loon species that grace the Salish Sea come from? What’s so special about loons? This program will answer these and other loon questions. The talk will feature the special adaptations that allow loons to be so successful at pursuing fish, and will give tips on identifying each species. There will be discussion on where and when to view each of these charismatic species, but the focus will be on how loons go about fishing for a living. The program concludes with a short segment on the long history of human and loon interaction. Come and hear the haunting calls of the loons that make them so compelling.Steve and Martha Ellis are long-time residents of Coupeville and have been giving talks on a wide variety of natural history topics for over 25 years. Steve is currently the Vice President of Whidbey Audubon Society (WAS) and lived among loons in Alaska for 24 years.  Martha is a former WAS board member and belongs to the Washington Native Plant Society.

Always on the 4th Tuesday of the month:February 28th, 7pm at the Whatcom Museum,** free & open to the public! 

**in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall building

NCAS Board of Directors Retreat: Minutes, Jan 2, 2017

North Cascades Audubon Society Board of Directors RetreatJan. 2, 2017, 5 PMRE Sources Ed Center Board Members Present: Pam Borso, Ken Salzman, Rae Edwards, Steven Harper, Sue Parrott, Paul Woodcock, Steve Irving, Jamie Huson, Nicole Huson, Twink Coffman, Owen Bamford, Judy Krieger, Kelley Palmer-McKee, Chris Brewer 

  1. Additions to Agenda - Added to new business below.
  2. Approval of December Minutes - Approved
  3. Treasurer’s Report – Sue presented the December report and the year-end report. We have not yet received the National Audubon dues share. Many people joined NCAS or renewed their memberships in December.  Memberships for the year met projections. We spent a little less than budgeted for the year. Revenue was much higher than projected due to a gift from an estate.
  4.  Communications & Input

CBC update – Both the Bellingham and the Ferry Count were successful, although the weather was wintery. One of our counters fell on the ice while observing a bird and another counter was rear ended. We are going to put an article regarding the CBC in the Feb. or March newsletter.WOW update – Wings Over Water is in the planning stages for March 10-12.  NCAS will have a table, Chris is helping WOW with artist contributions that are bird related and there will again be volunteers assisting with viewing stations.Whatcom Museum update – Birds are being moved to the balcony area. Paul, Owen and Pam are giving input into the panels that will accompany the birds. The Museum is hoping to get NCAS involved in giving tours of the bird exhibit. They will be opening the exhibit sometime during the end of Jan. or early Feb.Mature trees letter to City – Rae followed up with the City regarding the development next to the Fairhaven Library. She will follow up on a more generic letter requesting saving mature trees in the City of Bellingham. Meeting chairs for January Program and February Board – Paul will chair the January Program meeting and the February Board meeting.Washington Ornithological Society State meeting is at Semiahmoo Sept 21-25, 2017. Anyone interested in being a field trip leader should email Ken. Suggestions for areas for field trips should also be discussed with Ken. Field trip leaders will be able to attend the conference and the banquet for free.  

  1. Old Business

Trumpeter swan update – All licenses are procured and Paul will follow up with finding a taxidermist and request that it be mounted for presentation to the Museum.  $875 was raised.Holiday Potluck update – The board decided not to reschedule the potluck which had been cancelled because of weather.  We will again schedule it for next December and Pam will follow up with Carol to see if our payment for this year could be applied to next year.  

  1. New Business - Retreat items

May program- Steven asked if anyone had suggestions for a presenter or if we should ask one of our scholarship recipients?  Board noted that, if appropriate, a scholarship recipient would be good.Board positions, structure, role and activity of standing committees - Pam and Paul will not be allowed to continue in their current positions after May of 2018. We need to begin looking for a new President and Vice-President. Chris Brewer was asked by the board to be a new member and will become the new education chair. Rae will become a member at large.  Carol will remain as a member at large and Anna, who took over hospitality, decided not to be on the board. Jamie has taken on a new role, responsible for our web page and social media. Sue suggested we revisit board structure and membership on a regular basis so that we can be better prepared for leadership changes.  Everyone agreed.Review of minutes from last year’s retreat, and goals and accomplishments of 2016 - We reviewed what we had accomplished and felt it was appropriate to continue our efforts and initiatives of 2016 into 2017. There were a couple of items that were not followed up from the last retreat. One item was a survey of members and the placement of a suggestion box at presentations.  Board decided not to conduct a survey but to set up a suggestion box at program meetings and any submitted suggestions will be reviewed by the board at the next meeting.  Ken agreed to build the suggestion box. Another area where we fell short was in education efforts toward younger people, especially children.  Board agree that we will place a primary focus on these efforts in 2017.  Chris is establishing an education committee to work on these efforts.  We will also try to focus more efforts on persons in their 20’s and 30’s.Discussion of our current funds, what we want to do with our money, and asking for estate gifts - We should mention estate giving in our newsletter and encourage people to give. Sue will write up an article to be attached to the end of our accomplishments. Paul suggested that we give some scholarship money for people attending the WCC beginning birding class since NCAS doesn’t offer the class anymore. We agreed to allocate money for this effort, and Ken will look into how this could work. Lyle Anderson and Pam are hoping to present a class in February on marine birds of the Salish Sea in place of the Cherry Point survey class.  It will be a general interest class with two field trips.  People in the class can pursue more advanced training to be a counter for the Cherry Point survey. We will allocate money as needed for this class.       Website issues: reorganizing and updating - Jamie has agreed to be in charge of our web page and all of our social media. He is planning on doing an inventory of the current website and will present more information to board members on what he finds needs updating and how we can assist him.       Online donations - PayPal is now working as we have received a flood of new memberships through them recently.  It apparently was not working for a while as we had not received any donations through PayPal for approximately 18 months.  We are working on getting address information from PayPal as well as the email addresses.      Membership issues including membership status and updating database for membership - A committee has been established (Owen, Jamie and Kelley) to figure out the type of new database we need to make our membership process work more efficiently.  They will research cost, implications, etc. and report back to the board.      Education for youth, children and diverse audiences - February 6 Backyard Bird Count, CBC for kids, working with Wild Whatcom, Birds and Brew and summer camps were some of the ideas suggested by the board. Chris, Jamie and Nicole will form a new education work group to explore some new programs. They are also interested in targeting the 18-35 age demographic as well as families with children. They will investigate any liabilities associated with working with children. Ken will also follow up on using liability waivers for the field trips.       Jim Duemmel CBC newsletter article for February or March issue- Jim will be asked to write an article on CBC for one of these issues.       Future of Birds and Climate Change Group - Is it a priority?  At the next meeting (Jan. 9) a leader(s) needs to be appointed to coordinate the tabling at the Farmer’s Market.   The board supports this effort.        2017 Budget– Sue presented the 2017 budget taking into account the various priorities we have established.  It was approved by the board. 

  1. Upcoming Programs

 Jan. 24: Belinda Rotton and Richard Kessler - Birding on the Skagit and Whatcom Wildlife RefugesFeb. 15: Melanie Driscoll - Deepwater Horizon Disaster: Effect of the Oil Spill on the Local People and WildlifeFeb. 28: Steve and Martha Ellis - Loons of the Salish SeaMarch 28: Matt Christensen and Sarah Brookes - Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society – Stewardship North of the 49th ParallelApril 25: Jonathan White - Tides: The Science and Spirit of the OceanMay 23: Adjourn.  Next Meeting: February 6, 2017, 7-9 PM WECU Ed Ctr., 311 Holly St, Bellingham, WA   Follow-up Action Items

  • Paul, Owen and Pam will continue to give input into the panels that will accompany the new bird exhibit at the Whatcom Museum.
  • Rae will follow up on a more generic letter requesting saving mature trees in the City of Bellingham.
  • Paul will follow up with finding a taxidermist and request that the swan be mounted for presentation to the Whatcom Museum.
  • Pam will follow up with Carol to see if our payment for this year’s holiday party could be applied to next year.
  • Ken agreed to build the suggestion box that will be placed on the display table at our monthly presentations.
  • Chris is establishing an education committee with Jamie and Nicole to explore and work on new educational program efforts.
  • Sue will write an article regarding estate giving to be included in the newsletter after the article listing our 2016 accomplishments.
  • Ken will look into how scholarships can be made available to people signing up for the WCC beginning birding class.
  • Lyle Anderson and Pam will work on a class to be presented in February on marine birds of the Salish Sea.
  • Jamie will do an inventory of the current website and will present more information to board members on what he finds needs updating and how we can assist him.
  • Owen and Ann Palmer are working on getting address information from PayPal as well as the email addresses.
  • Owen, Jamie and Kelley will figure out the type of new database we need to make our membership process work more efficiently. They will research cost, implications, etc. and report back to the board.
  • Ken will follow up on finding liability waivers for the field trips.
  • Pam will ask Jim Duemmel to write an article on the history of the CBC for either the February or March newsletter.

2016 North Cascades Audubon Society Accomplishments

2016 North Cascades Audubon Society AccomplishmentsThe purpose of this society is to promote the study and conservation of birds and other wildlife, their habitat, and the environment; to increase public appreciation of the values of wildlife, plants, and the natural environment; and to stimulate action to protect and preserve them for the future.Consistent with the mission statement, the North Cascades Audubon Society accomplished the following in 2016:1. To promote the study and conservation of birds and other wildlife:• In collaboration with ReSources and the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve Citizens, NCAS trained citizen scientists to assist with the Cherry Point Bird Survey.  Participants attended five training sessions and then, throughout the year, conducted eight bird surveys in three locations in the Reserve.  Data is compiled in accordance with the MESA Study protocol.• In partnership with the Whatcom Land Trust, 20 citizen scientists/birders conducted bird surveys on twelve select Whatcom Land Trust properties.  Bird surveys were conducted in May, June and September.• Coordinated all aspects of the annual Whatcom County Christmas Bird Count, involving over 70 volunteer citizen scientists• Provided three scholarships to WWU students engaged in research relevant to conservation of birds and their habitat• Provided $500 in youth scholarships to attend the Whatcom Museum Summer Bird Camp• Entered into a collaborative agreement with the Whatcom Land Trust2. To increase public appreciation of the values of wildlife, plants and the natural environment:• Hosted eight educational programs for the public at the monthly NCAS meetings• Partnered with the Whatcom Museum in five educational programs at the Syre including a bird photography workshop, two summer Bird Camps for youth involving field trips and presentations, and the Museum’s 75th anniversary celebration• Co-sponsored Wings Over Water in Blaine and Birch Bay• Organized 26 field trips for the public to identify birds in Whatcom and Skagit Counties• Hosted the annual campout, with birding field trips, at Pearrygin Lake State Park• Built and distributed swallow and chickadee nest boxes• Participated in Backyard Habitat and Native Flora Fair• Presented to various community groups including Sue Taylor’s Green Gardening class, Parkway Chateau, Adult Day Health, and Summit Place Senior Living• Hosted bird walks at Birch Bay State Park• Wrote three articles for the Bellingham Herald• Accomplished fundraising effort for George and Lois Garlick Memorial which will be used to present a mounted trumpeter swan to the Whatcom Museum in their name3. To stimulate action to protect and preserve them for the future:• Formed a Climate Change Action Group and held five meetings• Paul Woodcock represented NCAS on the Whatcom County Wildlife Advisory Board and Pam Borso represented NCAS on the local Environmental Caucus Working Group.• Actively supported Initiative I-732 (the Washington Carbon Emission Tax and Sales Tax Reduction), including covering the issue in the newsletter and distributing flyers at monthly meetings and other events• Joined with local chapters, WA State, and National Audubon in submitting comments on issues related to public policy implications for birds and their habitat. Issues included: supporting Presidential Policy Protecting Public Lands & Wildlife; protecting imperiled seabirds;  opposing construction of a pellet plant and the export of raw logs from the Bellingham waterfront; preserving Important Birding Area (IBA) in Clark County; opposing  Army helicopter training in North Cascades National Park; opposing development in Burns Bog, B.C.; opposing coal terminal at Longview; opposing development in the buffer area of the Bellingham heron colony; opposing expansion of the Twin Sisters Swen Larson Quarry in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest;  opposing industrial development at the Weyerhauser Campus in Federal Way; supporting Congressional funding of programs and policies that protect our nation’s birds and other wildlife; urging PSE to replace their  Colstrip coal mine in Montana with renewable energy; and urging the Army Corps to finally publish the BP Cherry Point EIS.     

January Newsletter and Events Are Now Online

January 2017 Newsletter is Online

     Go to www.northcascadesaudubon.org to download the PDF. (Click "Newsletter" in the menu.) 

January Events and Field Trips Are Online

    Visit our website to see what's coming up this month. (Upcoming events are listed on the home page as well as on the Calendar.)

General Membership Meeting with Belinda Rotton and Richard Kessler

     This month's exciting membership meeting! Mark your calendar. See below for date, time, and location.

Birding on the Skagit and Whatcom Wildlife Areas. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW’s) Skagit Wildlife and Whatcom Wildlife Areas are popular public access sites for birding in the Pacific Northwest. Wildlife Area Managers Belinda Rotton and Richard Kessler will provide an overview of site history, current management practices and initiatives, and new project developments at these sites. Information will also be provided on the planning process and opportunities for public involvement at the wildlife areas.Belinda is the Wildlife Area Manager on the Skagit Wildlife Area focused on waterfowl, wetland management, and salmon recovery. She has worked for WDFW on the Skagit Wildlife Area since 2005.  She received her BS in Biology from the University of Arkansas, worked as a biologist for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and received a MS in Wetland Ecology and Management from the University of Missouri.Richard is a graduate of The Evergreen State College and has worked for WDFW since 1991, starting in the Upland Wildlife Restoration program in Eastern Washington.  In 1993 he became Wildlife Area Manager for the South Puget Sound Wildlife Area, Scatter Creek Wildlife Area, McNeil Island, and West Rocky Prairie. Richard worked restoring native prairie, managing the first release site for endangered western pond turtles, and managing hunting dog field trials and a wildlife nest box program using prisoners of McNeil Island. In 2009 Richard started managing the Whatcom Wildlife Area which includes the Lake Terrell, Tennant Lake, Nooksack, BP and Intalco Units. He manages these units for wildlife breeding, winter feeding of waterfowl, pheasant release, waterfowl hunting, fishing and boating.

Always on the 4th Tuesday of the month:January 24th, 7pm at the Whatcom Museum,** free & open to the public! 

**in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall building

NCAS Climate Change Group

     Volunteer with your local chapter.

The NCAS climate change group is planning to put an information table at the Bellingham Farmers Market one Saturday per month, starting next April. Before moving forward we need to know how many volunteers would commit to taking one or more 2-hour shifts at the table, to explain the issues to members of the public, and to hand out literature describing what they can do to help offset the effects of climate change on birds. If you are interested please contact Pam Borso at borsope@aol.com 360-319-9004.

December Board Minutes

North Cascades Audubon SocietyBoard of Directors Meeting AgendaWECU Ed Center on HollyDecember 5, 20167:00 PM Board Members Present: Carol Roberts, Pam Borso, Ken Salzman, Rae Edwards, Steven Harper, Sue Parrott, Paul Woodcock Gabe Epperson and Rich Bowers from the Whatcom Land Trust came and presented their interactive conservation plan and survey and we participated in providing input. They are seeking input from various community groups and individuals to guide their future acquisitions and management. 

  1. Additions to Agenda

 

  1. Approval of November Minutes- Approved

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report- Sue fielded questions regarding the report. She noted we received a thank you letter from the Northwest Swan Conservation Association. All newsletter advertisers have re-upped for 2017.

 

  1. Communications & Input

CBC update – Doug is doing a good job helping out Paul with organizing the count. We need a few more people to help out. For 2017, Paul shared his idea about setting up an intro CBC field trip to give people a taste of what it is like before they become fully involved. He is also investigating ways to get kids involved.Wings Over Water – March 10-12. Paul Bannick will be speaking. NCAS feels that viewing stations are a valuable part of the festival, however they need to be publicized more. In the past lack of publicity has led to underutilization.Cherry Point Bird Surveys – We have increased the number of birds we are surveying to 30 species. Because we already have plenty of people that have passed the written test and are eligible to be trained as counters we will not have a class this year. Instead, we will focus our efforts on training these people. Pam and Lyle Anderson may organize and present a short class and field trip on ocean birds.Hospitality - We have a new Host person and that is Anne Ziomkowski. 

  1. Old Business

Garlick Memorial Award Report and Swan Update – No update on swan preparations. Owen has heard from 6 of the people who donated money, and acknowledgement will be made of their donations in the January newsletter.Bird Panels at the Whatcom Museum – Pam and Paul have been reviewing the information from the museum staff and providing suggestions on content.  Rae agreed to participate in the review.            Holiday Potluck Update – Carol reported that everything is good to go and we will be buying some meat item to supplement the potluck. Board approved spending up to $100 on the food. 

  1. New Business

Retreat items – Sue would like to review last year’s retreat goals to see what we have accomplished. Pam will send out these goals before the retreat. Carol asked if we could also discuss updating and improving the membership database. Other ideas will be solicited via email. Ken Salzman will purchase pizza and Sue will bring deli salads for the retreat.We discussed an email that was submitted to Whatcom Birds regarding using CBC and eBird data for guiding input to the Whatcom County Critical Areas Ordinance. Pam will follow up with this person and also Judy Krieger  who was interested in investigating whether archived data would be helpful. 

  1. Upcoming Programs

 Dec. 12: Holiday Potluck – Doug Brown SlidesJan. 24: Belinda Rotton and Richard Kessler - Birding on the Skagit and Whatcom Wildlife RefugesFeb. 15: Melanie Driscoll - Deepwater Horizon Disaster: Effect of the Oil Spill on the Local People and WildlifeFeb. 28: Steve and Martha Ellis - Loons of the Salish SeaMarch 28: Matt Christensen and Sarah Brookes - Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society – Stewardship North of the 49th ParallelApril 25: Jonathan White - Tides: The Science and Spirit of the OceanMay 23: Adjourn - Next Meeting (Planning Retreat): January 2, 2016  5-9 PM WECU Ed Ctr., 311 Holly St, Bellingham, WA                                                            

November Board Minutes

North Cascades Audubon SocietyBoard of Directors Meeting MinutesWECU Ed Center on HollyNovember 7, 20167:00 PM Board Members Present: Carol Roberts, Pam Borso, Kelley Palmer-McGee, Steve Irving, Judy Krieger, Ken Salzman, Owen Bamford, Rae Edwards, Steven Harper, Sue Parrott, Jamie Huson, Nicole Huson Guest: Jamie Donaldson presented a request for a letter of support from NCAS in favor of preventing loss of mature trees in the City of Bellingham. 

  1. Additions to Agenda

 

  1. Approval of October Minutes- Approved

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report- Sue explained some corrections of errors in the report that she found in the reporting and has corrected. She talked about the money that has been donated and whether we should put a thank you in the January newsletter. Owen will contact donors and get their approval. Board agreed to discuss at the annual retreat the issue of asking for estate contributions and what we do with any money bequeathed.

 

  1. Communications & Input

Climate Change Group and I-732 – Sue told us that the group will have a booth at the Bellingham Farmer’s Market starting in April and staffed by members of the group or other people in Audubon, assuming there are enough people to staff the booth.  Cost is $20 per day. Facebook interface – The Facebook interface is being updated and will eventually be working correctly.  Currently a work around is available so that Jamie and Twink can add events to the Facebook Page.CBC update – Board suggested that there be an article in the January newsletter recounting the history of the 50 years of CBC in Bellingham.Cherry Point Bird Surveys – NCAS board believe the surveys should be continued for continuity purposes and for the sake of citizen science.  Pam and Lyle are planning on doing a workshop instead of training this year as well as training additional people that have already passed the test.ACOW – Pam reported that ACOW was a very good conference this year with lots of DNR and BLM people presenting.  Pam and Paul also had a great experience at the banding site above Lake Chelan. 

  1. Old Business

Garlick Memorial Award Report and Swan Update – We have raised the money needed. The State permit is in hand and the Federal permit is being worked on and when in hand we will move ahead.            Holiday Potluck update – Carol and Nicole are working on the Potluck and requested that people save cedar boughs if they have them available.Whatcom Land Trust Collaboration – Pam reported that she will be signing the document in the coming week.AV Technical Support- Steven and Jamie will meet at the Museum and work out the parameters for presentations on various computers to communicate to the presenters. They will also determine the cords necessary for various computer connections.  

  1. New Business

NCAS will send a letter in support of saving mature trees in the City of Bellingham.Birding on Lummi Property – It is possible to receive a yearly permit from the planning office at tribal headquarters good for up to 3 persons. 

  1. Upcoming Programs

 November 22: Jim Watson - Raptors of Western WashingtonDecember 12: Holiday Potluck – Doug Brown SlidesJan 24: Belinda Rotton and Richard Kessler - Birding on the Skagit and Whatcom Wildlife RefugesFeb 28: Steve and Martha Ellis - Loons of the Salish SeaMarch 28: Matt Christensen and Sarah Brookes - Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society: Stewardship North of the 49th ParallelApril 25: Jonathan White - Tides: The Science and Spirit of the OceanMay 23: AdjournNext Meeting: December 5, 2016 7 PM WECU Ed Ctr., 311 Holly St, Bellingham, WA                                                            

Raptors in our Lives & How to Find Them

Raptors in our Lives & How to Find ThemThursday, December 1st, 2016 7 PMAll Ages - FreeLecture Room at the Central Librarywww.bellinghampubliclibrary.orgJoin the Bellingham Public Library and Bud Anderson, founder of the Falcon Research Group, for a free presentation and discussion about raptors. The presentation will focus on raptors found in the Pacific Northwest and will include identifying birds of prey and how to find them, their migratory patterns and their role in our ecosystem. The Falcon Research Group (FRG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting field research, public education and raptor conservation. Bud Anderson is an internationally recognized and respected raptor expert, and leads the FRG's efforts in public education, long-term field research projects, and projects focused on raptor breeding, migration, wintering and genetics studies both locally and internationally.Please join Whatcom Land Trust at the Bellingham Public Library to celebrate these beautiful creatures! Come early to ensure you get a seat, as we expect this presentation to fill the available space!

WinterFest: Gifts Inspired by Nature

WinterFest ~ Gifts Inspired by NatureThursday December 15, 20165pm – 8pmWhatcom Land Trust Offices412 N. Commercial StBellingham360.650.9470Join us at Whatcom Land Trust on North Commercial Street between 5PM and 8PM for a cup of cocoa and soft music by Swing Set while you shop directly from local artisans. Featured artists include John D’Onofrio, Andrea Gabriel, Mark Turner, Ginger Oppenheimer and AnnMarie Cooper to name a few. Look for stocking stuffers, notecards and books galore, signed by our local scribes. Gifts Inspired by Nature is also featuring local food favorites as gifts—everything from berries to chocolate. Free all-natural gift wrapping provided and a portion of sales benefit Whatcom Land Trust’s work preserving and protecting the Nature of Whatcom County.

50th Annual Whatcom County CBC Sunday, December 18

50th Annual Whatcom County CBC Sunday, December 18.The National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a citizen science effort, conducted by thousands of community members whose purpose is to collect data on bird populations across the continent while celebrating the holidays and enjoying the wonders of nature. The CBC in Bellingham has been held annually since 1967, making this year our 50th year. So come celebrate and participate! For more information on the Bellingham CBC please go to www.northcascadesaudubon.org/birding/christmas-bird-count/#. Participation in the Bellingham CBC is free. Results will be published by National Audubon in an online version of American Birds during the summer of 2017. You can find much more information on this event, as well as annual results and summaries, at birds.audubon.org/ christmas-bird-count. If you are interested in participating in the Bellingham CBC please contact Paul Woodcock at vp@northcascadesaudubon.org or 360-966-6549; or Doug Brown at bblackcat@comcast.net or 360-647-1657.

COASST Training

Beachwalkers Wanted!BEACHED BIRD TRAININGSaturday, November 19, 201610:00 am – 4:00 pmLions Camp HorizonConference Building7506 Gemini StreetBlaine, WA 98230MARINE DEBRIS TRAININGSunday, November 20, 201611:00 am – 5:00 pmFairhaven Branch Library1117 12th StreetBellingham, WA 98225RSVP to attend one of the trainings at coasst@uw.edu or 206-221-6893.If you can’t attend this event, please check our website at www.coasst.org for additional information on upcoming events and trainings.OverviewHelp make a difference for the environment by collecting data for the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST). COASST is a citizen science project dedicated to involving volunteers in the collection of high quality data. Our goal is to assist government agencies and other organizations in making informed management and conservation decisions, and to promote proactive citizen involvement and action. COASST is offering two different trainings: Marine Debris and Beached Birds. Volunteers need NO prior experience, just a commitment to survey a specific beach (about ¾ mile) each month.COASST Marine Debris participants survey local beaches and collect data on the characteristics and location of debris - data that will ultimately be used to map the source and transport pathways of debris, as well as the potential harm to people, wildlife, and local coastal ecosystems.COASST Beached Bird volunteers systematically count and identify bird carcasses that wash ashore along ocean beaches from northern California to Alaska.If you are interested in participating, join COASST staff for a training session. There is no charge to attend a training, but plan to provide a $20 refundable deposit if you would like to take home a COASST volunteer kit. Training activities take place indoors. Beach surveys are best conducted in groups of 2 or more – please come with a survey partner in mind or plan to join a team during training.

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Nov/Dec Newsletter and Events Are Online

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Nov/Dec 2016 Newsletter is Online

     Go to www.northcascadesaudubon.org to download the PDF. (Click "Newsletter" in the menu.) 

 

November and December Events and Field Trips Are Online

    Visit our website to see what's coming up this month. (Upcoming events are listed on the home page as well as on the Calendar.)

Christmas Bird Count dates:
Saturday, December 17: San Juan Ferry Transect
Sunday, December 18: Whatcom County

If you are interested in participating in the Bellingham CBC please contact Paul Woodcock at vp@northcascadesaudubon.org or 360-966-6549; or Doug Brown at bblackcat@comcast.net or 360-647-1657.


Mark Your Calendar: Holiday Potluck

    Our annual holiday potluck will be on Monday, December 12, from 6-9pm at the YWCA Ballroom. 

1026 N Forest Street, Bellingham

Join us at the YWCA Ballroom on Monday, December 12, from 6-9pm to celebrate another great year of birds, birding, and our Audubon community. There will be live music and Doug Brown, a local photographer and birder, will be presenting some of his photos. Please bring plates, utensils, and a dish to share. Coffee and tea will be provided. Happy holidays!

General Membership Meeting with Jim Watson

     This month's exciting membership meeting! Mark your calendar. See below for date, time, and location.

Raptors of Western Washington: From Shoreline to Summit. Often seen, often admired, often maligned. Raptors are important apex predators in western Washington associated with ecosystems centered on water and forests. Join us for an evening discussion that will be of interest both to novice and experienced birders and avian ecologists. We’ll establish some common ground as we discuss key specialized adaptations of raptors that make them successful hunters, and learn about the ecology of species most often encountered in ecosystems west of the Cascades. Then we’ll highlight interesting findings from current statewide raptor research studies including effects of recent forest fires on golden eagle and northern goshawk nest ecology, and impacts of wind power development on golden eagles and ferruginous hawks. Both forest fires and wind power development are expected to increase over the next several years in western Washington. Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, especially those raptor questions you’ve always pondered, whether fact or fiction. Although we may not be able to derive the answers, it will make for a lively discussion!

Jim Watson is a Wildlife Research Scientist with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) and the lead researcher for statewide raptor studies. He has spent the past 45 years studying raptors in the western United States and abroad. Jim’s research focus includes raptor population dynamics, migration ecology, and management of raptors in human landscapes.

Always on the 4th Tuesday of the month:
November 22nd, 7pm at the Whatcom Museum,** free & open to the public! 

**in the Rotunda Room of the Old City Hall building

 

NCAS Climate Change Group

     Volunteer with your local chapter.

The NCAS climate change group is planning to put an information table at the Bellingham Farmers Market one Saturday per month, starting next April. Before moving forward we need to know how many volunteers would commit to taking one or more 2-hour shifts at the table, to explain the issues to members of the public, and to hand out literature describing what they can do to help offset the effects of climate change on birds. 

If you are interested please contact Pam Borso at borsope@aol.com 360-319-9004.

October Board Minutes

Board of Directors Meeting MinutesOctober 3, 2016Present: Kelley Palmer-McGee, Carol Roberts, Paul Woodcock, Pam Borso, Steve Irving, Twink Coffman, Owen Bamford, Rae Edwards1.Additions to AgendaCherry Point Aquatic Reserve: Steve Irving is member on a committee to eliminate the cut-out for the pier suggested by the Department of Natural Resources.2. Approval of September Minutes: Approved by the board3. Treasurer’s Report: Received by the board4.  Communications & Inputa. Climate Change Group and I-732: Next Group meeting is October 24 at 7:00 PM at the Cordata FoodCo-op.b. Facebook interface: Kelley reported that Ann is working on the interface.c. Online donations efficiency: No newsd. CBC update: December 17 for the ferry count and the 18th for the mainland count. Doug Brown will beassisting Paul Woodcock. Paul has recommended having a pre-meeting so that people know what toexpect with regard to commitments at the CBC.e. Asa Wright Nature Center Fundraising: If we advertise in our newsletter the tours of this nonprofitorganization and someone signs up, they will donate $100.00 to NCAS.  Board approved advertising.5. Old Businessa. Garlick Memorial Award Report and Swan Update: Now have $650.00. State permits acquired, nowworking on federal permitsb. Holiday Potluck update: Set for December 12 from 6-9 at the YWCA ballroom. Carol will purchaserectangular table cloths and supply hot beverages. Nicole will help with decorations. Doug Brown willprovide the program. It will be advertised in the newsletter and on the website and Facebook.6. New Businessa.  Whatcom Land Trust Collaboration: An agreement was presented to WLT. We await WLT board approval.b. Volunteer recognition: Rae, who has been coordinating volunteers and has found appreciation eventsare not usually successful, recommended more broad reaching acknowledgement such as in thenewsletter, on the website and Facebook.c.  Jim Duemmel recognition 50 years CBC: Pam inquired about the best way to acknowledge Jim andsuggested a nice red fleece. Paul recommended a plaque.  Board approved acquisition limited tounder $500.00.7. Committee Reports as needed8. ProgramsOct 25 Gary Searing: Raptor Management at Vancouver BC AirportNovember 22 Jim Watson: Raptors of Western WashingtonJan 24: Wildlife RefugesFeb 28 Steve and Martha EllisApril 25 or May 23 Jonathan White: Tides in the Salish SeaAdjourn - Next Meeting: November 7, 2016, 7 PM WECU Ed Ctr; 311 Holly St, Bellingham, WA